Beach vendor charges adjourned till June

Four people charged with carrying on a business on a public beach without a license appeared in Summary Court on Thursday, when their matters were adjourned again until Tuesday, June 27.

Among the four was Raul Gonzalez Jr., an independent candidate contesting the Newlands seat in the General Elections on May 24.

Mr. Gonzalez previously pleaded not guilty to the charge of carrying on the business of Blue Water Island Adventure Tours at Seven Mile Beach on Sept. 15, 2016.

The charge relates to a ticket issued by an enforcement officer from the Cayman Islands Department of Commerce and Investment.

Defense attorney Phillip Ebanks stated at an earlier Summary Court appearance that his client had a valid trade and business license.

This week, he told Magistrate Grace Donalds that he was appearing for both Mr. Gonzalez and Eric Ebanks concerning vending on the beach.

No resolution yet

Attorney Mr. Ebanks indicated he had spoken with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. There had been discussions, he said, “but we don’t yet have a resolution.”

He asked for the matters to be brought back on June 27.

He pointed out that both his clients had received a ticket alleging the offense.

Two other defendants, whom he did not formally represent, had been issued similar tickets, he noted.

Seymour Silburn pleaded guilty to selling jerk chicken on the beach on Sept. 15. Sheila Bodden has not yet entered a plea. She is charged with selling handcrafts and jewelry on the beach near the West Bay public dock on Sept. 22.

Crown counsel Neil Kumar agreed it made sense to keep the four cases together.